HELP! In contentious situation with employer

[Anonymous]

For the past 6 months I’ve worked a ton of overtime to cover for a coworker who’s been out on medical leave. I’ve now accrued almost 3 months of comp time.

Due to the nature of my role it is very hard for me to take much vacation right now, because if I do, our project would get messed up and upset our clients.

Since I can’t realistically take vacation, I requested to have the money for the comp time paid out to me. My request is being ignored. How would you handle this?

[Anonymous]

Define ignored: who did you send it to and cc, how long ago did you send it? How have you followed up?

[Anonymous]

Accrued leave of any type is a liability on the company's books. They should want you to take it. I suspect you're not asking the right person or, if you are, you're not being persistent. Ask the person responsible face-to-face, and offer some options beyond taking it all at once, which would probably be too distruptive. Ask how you can take your leave with the least business impact, come across as flexible and aware, not merely as entitled (although you are of course entitled to leave you have earned).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Define ignored: who did you send it to and cc, how long ago did you send it? How have you followed up?

OP here. I requested this 6 weeks ago and have followed up weekly verbally and in writing with my supervisor, who regularly says they will get it resolved.

[Anonymous]

I mean you are luck to get comp time. Most people are salaried and they can work 40 hours a week or 80 hours a week and it's the same salary. You are not entitled to be paid for working extra if you are exempt.

[Anonymous]

Take a month off.

[Anonymous]

Put in for leave for October, November and December. If that doesn't get a positive result, use the time to find a new job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Accrued leave of any type is a liability on the company's books. They should want you to take it. I suspect you're not asking the right person or, if you are, you're not being persistent. Ask the person responsible face-to-face, and offer some options beyond taking it all at once, which would probably be too distruptive. Ask how you can take your leave with the least business impact, come across as flexible and aware, not merely as entitled (although you are of course entitled to leave you have earned).

OP was already being flexible by offering to cash it out, so as to not take disruptive leave.

[Anonymous]

Is it tracked in a computer or timesheet somewhere? I'm surprised your allowed to accrue that much because it's a liability on their books like someone else says. My company policy has a much lower limit and also you are supposed to use it in the same calendar year.

[Anonymous]

Also do you know what happens if you have a raet change? Ours is in dollars so if you get a raise before you use it, you will have fewer hours.

[Anonymous]

*rate change

[Anonymous]

Does it expire? If not, won't they just ask you to sit with it and take it when you can?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it expire? If not, won't they just ask you to sit with it and take it when you can?

OP here. It expires at the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, OP. It sucks that your supervisor is not dealing with this. It sounds like you have been super conscientious and they’re leaving you hanging.

I’m no lawyer, so take this with a grain of salt, but I would make sure all future requests are in writing. I would schedule a meeting (with supervisor and the HR people?) to talk about how they want to deal with the comp time issue, and I would take notes at the meeting and share back with meeting attendees. Hopefully they can resolve this soon and pay you out.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

That is a lot of comp time to use by the end of the year. I'd start requesting vacation in one week increments plus additional time around all the holidays. Start using your leave. If they do end up letting you cash in the comp time, you can always cancel those vacation requests.